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Response of benthic macroinvertebrates to whole-lake, non-native fish treatments in mid-elevation lakes of the Trinity Alps, California

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Abstract

Introduced fish reduce the abundance and diversity of native aquatic fauna, but the effect can be reduced in complex habitats. We manipulated fish populations in forested mountain lakes to determine whether or not fish affected benthic macroinvertebrate composition across lakes with differing habitat complexity. We compared abundance, biomass, body-length, and community structure of benthic macroinvertebrates from 16 lakes with three treatments (fish stocked, suspended stocking, fish removed) and unstocked fishless “controls”. Over 4 years, we assessed the relative importance of fish and environmental variables influencing the composition of benthic macroinvertebrates. Control lakes had the greatest overall abundance of macroinvertebrates when chironomid midges were excluded. Abundances of insects in the clinger/swimmer functional group and caddisflies were greatest in the control lakes but were primarily influenced by habitat variables including the availability of aquatic vegetation and wood. Total biomass and mean body length of macroinvertebrates were not affected by treatment. Taxon richness of macroinvertebrates was about 40% greater in the control lakes compared to the treatment lakes but did not differ among treatments. Our results suggest that fish reduce susceptible macroinvertebrate richness and abundances, but that changes associated with alterations of fish composition are confounded by other factors in complex lake habitats.

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Acknowledgments

We thank all the excellent field assistants who helped collect the data. M. Larson and M. Camann provided assistance with insect identification and G. Hodgson and M. Camann provided statistical help. G Hodgson helped with tables and figures. B. Harvey, D. Troxel, M. Mesler and M. Camann and two anonymous reviewers offered helpful comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. S. Lawler provided insight and expertise throughout the field phase of the project. Thanks to CDFW, especially B Bolster and E Pert for their endorsement and logistical support of the project. This research was funded by CDFG (ESA Section 6 grants E-2-F-21 and E-2-F-27), the National Science Foundation (DEB 0415505), UC Water Resources Center (W-987), and the UC Davis Wildlife Health Center. KLP received additional support from the US Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station.

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  1. USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 1700 Bayview Dr., Arcata, CA, 95521, USA

    Karen L. Pope

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Humboldt State University, 1 Harpst St., Arcata, CA, 95521, USA

    Erin C. Hannelly

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  1. Karen L. Pope
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  2. Erin C. Hannelly
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Correspondence to Karen L. Pope.

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Handling editor: Katya E. Kovalenko

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Pope, K.L., Hannelly, E.C. Response of benthic macroinvertebrates to whole-lake, non-native fish treatments in mid-elevation lakes of the Trinity Alps, California. Hydrobiologia 714, 201–215 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1537-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1537-2

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